By Roxanne Reid
We were thrilled one summery day in September to find that our little self-catering cottage on a sheep farm about 10km from Howick looked out over a small dam. Imagine our wonder when the dam had disappeared the following morning! A little mystery to add to our visit to Sugarlands cottage, Curry’s Post, KZN.
We were thrilled one summery day in September to find that our little self-catering cottage on a sheep farm about 10km from Howick looked out over a small dam. Imagine our wonder when the dam had disappeared the following morning! A little mystery to add to our visit to Sugarlands cottage, Curry’s Post, KZN.
Of course, the dam was still there; it was just covered by mist that had rolled in overnight. ‘Two out of every ten days here are misty,’ said Kate Holmes, the friendly woman who manages the cottage. By mid-morning the sun had burnt it off and the sky was blue again. That’s the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands for you – two seasons in a single day.
Sugarlands is just a couple of kilometres from the lovely Old Halliwell Country Inn and a more affordable and laid-back choice for those like us who prefer to do their own thing, sit on the stoep while the braai fire gets to the right state of readiness, or have a simple breakfast of coffee and rusks.
Sugarlands is just a couple of kilometres from the lovely Old Halliwell Country Inn and a more affordable and laid-back choice for those like us who prefer to do their own thing, sit on the stoep while the braai fire gets to the right state of readiness, or have a simple breakfast of coffee and rusks.
Sugarlands is 1.5 hours from Durban or 4.5 hours from Johannesburg and there’s easy access off the N3. The one-bedroom cottage (queen-size bed and bathroom en suite) is also suitable for families of four, thanks to two single beds in the living area. There’s a fully equipped kitchen with microwave, and a braai outside. A winter visit will see you enjying a log fire while watching DSTV or snuggling up in bed with your electric blanket. In warmer weather, bring your fishing rods to fish for bass in the dam.
There’s lots to do in the area, from the Mandela Capture Site, to arts and crafts on the Midlands Meander, from horse riding and trout fishing to the Karkloof Nature Reserve and Karkloof Canopy Tour.
There’s lots to do in the area, from the Mandela Capture Site, to arts and crafts on the Midlands Meander, from horse riding and trout fishing to the Karkloof Nature Reserve and Karkloof Canopy Tour.
Don’t miss lunch or at least tea at Tumble Downs Cafe and Restaurant between Sugarlands and Howick on the Curry’s Post Road. It’s rated number four of 28 restaurants in Howick on Tripadvisor. We enjoyed the chicken breast with whole mustard sauce, and a fillet with guacamole and cranberry sauce, both delicious but quite rich. We hadn’t planned on having dessert as well, but the quality of our mains inspired us to try the crème brulee (a little bit runnier than we like it) and a seriously yummy baked chocolate dessert cake with Lindt chocolate centre, served with whipped cream. We spent the rest of the afternoon on a post-chocolate high.
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